&#34;A.C Triple-Flop Hold&#39;Em&#34; Game

ABSTRACT

The invention is an “A.C Triple-Flop Hold&#39;Em”, which is a version of the card game poker, which uses a standard 52 card deck. This game uses many of the same rules as the poker game “Texas Hold&#39;Em” with a few variations to add to the excitement and to increase the fun and the betting. Play consists of: two cards face down, are dealt to each player. Three “flops” are dealt, consisting of two cards each, are dealt face up. The dealer is to “burn” a card before each “flop” deal. “BUY-A-CARD” option is available as an extra face down card to those whom are willing to pay the price. Each player has two cards in possession and uses a maximum of three cards from the community cards. When 3 pocket cards in possession, player is still limited to using no more than 2 face-down cards from the hand.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This invention relates to an entertainment game, more specifically, to a game based on the “Texas Hold'Em” game.

BACKGROUND

Card games have been around for a very long time and are enjoyed by people all over. Many find them especially enjoyable when playing with friends or in a casino for money.

Recently, the card game “Texas Hold'Em” has become a very popular game to play. In this game which is based on poker and uses a standard 52 card deck. The two players to the left of the dealer “button” put in a “blind” bet, one small, directly left of the dealer “button” and one big, next to the small “blind”. This is to insure money to play for, in every hand. The dealer “button” rotates after each hand. Each player is then dealt two face down cards, which are viewable to that person alone. After these cards are dealt, a round of betting takes place. The dealer then “burns” or discards the top card and deals out three (3) community cards face up, which all players are able to use. Another round of betting then takes place. Then the dealer burns the next card and turns the one after, that face up on the table as the fourth community card. Yet another round of betting takes place, and then the dealer burns another card and places the final community card on the table. A final round of betting takes place, followed by the showdown. The bets can be with chips or actual money.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The current invention is an “A.C Triple-Flop Hold'Em”, which is a version of the card game poker, which uses a standard 52 card deck. This game uses many of the same rules as the poker game “Texas Hold'Em” with a few variations to add to the excitement and to increase the fun and the betting. Play consists of: two cards, face down, are dealt to each player. Three “flops” are dealt, consisting of two cards each, are dealt face up. A round of betting takes place between flops. The dealer is to “burn” a card before each “flop” deal. “BUY-A-CARD” option is available as an extra face down card to those whom are willing to pay the price. Each player has two cards in possession and uses a maximum of three cards from the community cards. A “BUY-A-CARD” option is available as an extra face down card to those whom are willing to pay the price. The inventor suggests that the price be no less than double the larger bet, in “limit games” or, at the discretion of the casino. This extra card will be dealt to the “buyers”, after a card “burn”, after the third flop is exposed and prior to the 4th and final round of betting takes place.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Without restricting the full scope of this invention, the preferred form of this invention is illustrated in the following drawings:

FIG. 1 shows the seating arrangement of the game;

FIG. 2 shows the three flops;

FIG. 3 shows the sequence of exposures and the overall layout of the cards;

FIG. 4 shows the basic sequence of the game; and

FIG. 5 shows the specifics of “A.C Triple-Flop Hold'Em” compared to “Texas Hold'Em” and Omaha.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The current invention is “A.C Triple-Flop Hold'Em”, which is a version of the card game poker, which uses a standard 52 card deck. This game uses many of the same rules as the poker game “Texas Hold'Em” with a few variations to add to the excitement and to increase the betting and size of the pots.

“Texas Hold'Em” has become a very popular game to play. In this game which is based on poker and uses a standard 52 card deck. The two players to the left of the dealer “button” put in a “blind” bet, one small, directly left of the dealer “button” and one big, next to the small “blind”. This is to insure money to play for, in every hand. The dealer “button” rotates after each hand. Each player is then dealt two face down cards, which are viewable to that person alone. After these cards are dealt, a round of betting takes place. The dealer then “burns” or discards the top card and deals out three (3) community cards face up, which all players are able to use. Another round of betting then takes place. Then the dealer burns the next card and turns the one after, that face up on the table as the fourth community card. Yet another round of betting takes place, and then the dealer burns another card and places the final community card on the table. A final round of betting takes place, followed by the showdown. The bets can be with chips or actual money.

The players of the game play at typical poker game set up as shown in FIG. 1. It is a table with chairs around it. The player could have poker chip holders, known as racks. The game can be played with a single dedicated dealer, as is the case in casinos or the dealing can rotate between all of the players. Multiple hands (turns) are played with each hand having its own set of bidding and an individual winner for each hand.

The method to play the current invention is as follows:

To begin a new hand a dealer deals two cards, face down to each player, followed by first round of betting. The dealer then deals two cards face up. This is called a “flop.” The second round of betting follows. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, three “flops” are dealt face up each consisting of two cards each. The dealer burns/discards a card before each “flop” deal. There is the first flop 1, the second flop 2 and the third flop 3. The three flops form the community cards (6) from which a maximum of 3 that the players can use to form their best hand.

Each player will have a five card hand with two cards in their possession and uses a maximum of three cards from the six community cards 6, called the board.

The game will have blinds which are forced bets (one small and one big) before the cards are dealt out. In the preferred embodiment this will be done by the two players seated left of the Dealer “button”.

The game will have betting to allow a winner. The betting can be done with any item such as items, chips or actual money. There can be a single and double bet.

If it is a “no-limit” game, after the two face down cards are dealt to each player, any size bet may be made at anytime; to the limit of what's in possession of the players on the table. Check and raise is allowed. As the standard, after the first, second and third flop, the first player seated on the left of the dealer “button” must act first.

In a “limit game” a single bet is made, which must equal the big blind, by each player after the two face down cards are dealt. Single bet after the first “flop”, double bet after the second “flop” and double bet after the third “flop”. A player can drop out of the hand at any of the betting stages.

The controller of the game (House) can set a minimum “buy-in” to the game. But not the maximum, since the bets are limited to the two large bets (the third and the fourth).

The game can have wild cards which can take on whatever suit and rank their possessor desires. Sometimes jokers will be used as wild cards, other times, the dealer, house or a player will specify which cards are wild. But this is not normally done in the game.

A “BUY-A-CARD” option is available in the preferred embodiment and is available as an extra face down card to those whom are willing to pay the price. The “Buy-A-Card” Rules are as follows: At the start of the game, all players have to agree to this option. It is an extra face-down card to those that are willing to pay the price. The price to pay is, at the inventor's suggestion, in “limit games” to be no less than double the highest bet allowed. This buying is to take place just before the last bet/raise or check is made. The location running the game such as a non-profit or a casino can take a set amount from each “buy-a-card”. This can be done since the option will tend to slow the game down a little and thus, fewer hands are dealt. If there aren't enough cards for all participants in the hand who wish to buy, which is highly unlikely in this game, the option will automatically become unavailable. The hand is to proceed without any “buys”. In the preferred embodiment, even with the extra card, when bought, the most cards that a player can use out of the hand is two. The limit of only three cards from the six community cards 6 is still applicable. In “no-limit” games, the controller of the game will set a price for the “Buys”. However, this option is more practical in “limit games”.

The players will try to make the best poker hand from a combination of two of their down cards 10 and three cards from the community cards 6. The player with the best hand will win the betting pot. If two or more players have equal hands they will split the betting pot evenly.

Poker Hands are ranked in the following order (from high to low): Five of a Kind, Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, Pair, and High Card.

A five of a kind (which is only possible when using wild cards which is not in the standard play) is the highest possible hand. If more than one hand has five of a kind, the higher card wins (Five Aces beats five kings, which beat five queens, and so on).

An Ace high straight-flush is called a Royal Flush and is the highest natural hand.

A straight flush is the best natural hand. A straight flush is a straight, which is 5 cards in order, such as 3-4-5-6-7, that are all of the same suit.

Four of a kind is simply four cards of the same rank. If there are two or more hands that qualify, the hand with the higher-rank four of a kind wins. If, in some bizarre game with many wild cards, there are two four of a kinds with the same rank, then the one with the high card outside the four of the kind wins.

A full house is a three of a kind and a pair, such as A-A-A-3-3. Ties are broken first by the three of a kind, then pair. So A-A-A-3-3 beats K-K-K-2-2.

A flush is a hand where all of the cards are the same suit, such as J-8-5-3-2, all of spades. When flushes ties, the rules for High Card are followed.

A straight is 5 cards in order, such as 4-5-6-7-8. An ace may either be high (A-K-Q-J-T) or low (5-4-3-2-1). However, a straight may not ‘wrap around’ (such as Q-K-A-2-3, which is not a straight). When straights tie, the highest straight wins. (AKQJT beats KQJT9 down to 5432A). If two straights have the same value (AKQJT vs AKQJT) they split the pot.

Three of a Kind is three cards of any rank, matched with two cards that are not a pair. The highest three of a kind wins. If both are the same rank, then the compare High Cards.

Two Pair is two distinct pairs of card and a 5th card. The highest pair wins ties. If both hands have the same high pair, the second pair wins. If both hands have the same pairs, the high card wins.

One pair is a distinct pair of cards with three distinct cards. High card breaks ties.

High Card is any hand which doesn't qualify as any one of the above hands. If nobody has a pair or better, then the highest card wins. If multiple people tie for the highest card, they look at the second highest, then the third highest etc.

When hands tie on the rank of a pair, three of a kind, etc, the cards outside break ties following the High Card rules.

The current invention is a more exciting and entertaining version of “Hold'Em” type poker games. FIG. 5 gives a comparison of the current invention versus “Texas Hold'Em and the game Omaha. The players have a total of eight cards to make a hand, instead of seven cards in “Texas Hold'Em” and Omaha, and yet, the number of bets (4) are the same. This will result in the tendency of the players not to “drop out” as fast but to stay in the hand longer or to the very end. Also, this will cause the pots to become bigger. Moreover, the two face down cards in possession of the players become relatively more valuable since only three cards may be selected or used from the six community cards. The other big plus in making current invention even a better game is that “one winner” hands will generally prevail since, again, only three cards may be used from the board. The current invention is the only game with a “buy-a-card” option with rare pot splitting which is a problem with the “Texas Hold'Em” and Omaha games. The current invention will have larger pot sizes.

Advantages

“A.C Triple-Flop Hold'Em” adds to the excitement of the game by giving an extra community card as a possibility for the player to use. Having this extra chance for a better hand is bound to increase the amount of bets. It also adds the option to “Buy-A-Card” which gives players yet another card. Players in casinos are always looking for newer versions of games, and that is exactly what this card game offers. “A.C Triple-Flop Hold'Em” is highly beneficial to the casinos as well as to the players. To the House, Larger collection to the maximum allowed. The benefit to the players, dramatically fewer pot splits, as well as considerably fewer “bad beats”. This is due to the three card limitation from the board (community cards).

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the point and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.

As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

1. A card game comprising: A dealer dealing cards down to each player, the dealer then deals a plurality of flops, the players use their down cards and card from the flops to make their best hand, and the player with the best 5 cards wins that hand.
 2. A card game as in claim 1 further comprising having each flop be two card dealt face up.
 3. A card game as in claim 1 further comprising having the dealer discard a card between each flop.
 4. A card game as in claim 1 further comprising having the rules based on the game of poker.
 5. A card game as in claim 1 further comprising allowing a player to have another down card.
 6. A card game as in claim 1 further comprising where three flops are dealt.
 7. A card game as in claim 1 further comprising where two down cards are dealt.
 8. A card game as in claim 1 further comprising where players bet after each flop.
 9. A card game as in claim 1 further comprising where players bet on their hand to a betting pot and the winner of the hand receives the betting pot.
 10. A card game as in claim 1 further comprising where players bet before and after each flop.
 11. A card game as in claim 1 further comprising allowing a player to purchase another down card.
 12. A card game as in claim 1 further comprising having a plurality of players place bets at the start of the hand.
 13. A card game as in claim 12 further comprising having the two players to the left of the dealer “button” place bets (called blinds) at the start of the hand.
 14. A card game as in claim 12 further comprising having the two players to the left of the dealer button” place bets (called blinds) place bets at the start of the hand, one small bet and one large bet.
 15. A card game comprising: A dealer dealing two cards down to each player, the dealer then deals a plurality of flops having each flop be two card dealt face up where three flops are dealt, the players use their down cards and card from the flops to make their best hand, and the player with the best 5 cards wins that hand, having Players restricted to a maximum of 3 cards from the community cards, having the dealer discard a card between each flop, having the rules based on the game of poker.
 16. A card game as in claim 15 further comprising allowing a player to have another down card.
 17. A card game as in claim 15 further comprising where players bet after each flop.
 18. A card game as in claim 15 further comprising where players bet on their hand to a betting pot and the winner of the hand receives the betting pot.
 19. A card game as in claim 15 further comprising where players check, bet or, and raise before and after each flop.
 20. A card game as in claim 15 further comprising having the two players to the left of the dealer “button” place bets (called blinds) place bets at the start of the hand, one small bet and one large bet. 